Conclusions and Policy Implications for Cash Transfer Programmes

From Evidence to Action: The Story of Cash Transfers and Impact Evaluation in Sub Saharan Africa, 2016

Posted: 9 Jan 2019

See all articles by Paul Winters

Paul Winters

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

Benjamin Davis

UNICEF South Africa

Sudhanshu Handa

University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill - Department of Public Policy; Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)

Jennifer Yablonski

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Natalia Winder Rossi

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Nicola Hypher

United Nations - Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD)

Date Written: 2016

Abstract

Given the importance of cash transfer programmes in social protection strategies in sub-Saharan Africa, understanding programme impacts and processes that facilitate improvements in programme implementation is critical. Based on rigorous mixed method impact evaluations, evidence presented in this book from Kenya, Ghana, Ethiopia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Malawi, and South Africa that form part of the Transfer Project and From Protection to Production project clearly counteracts concerns around cash transfers creating dependency. Unconditional cash transfers lead to a broad range of significant social and productive impacts, even though they are not tied to any specific behaviour. Lessons on the political economy of evaluations suggest that impact evaluations must be embedded in policy processes to be effective in influencing decision-making. Impact evaluations help build the credibility of the social protection sector, strengthen the case for social protection as an investment, address public concerns around transfers, and support learning around programme design.

Suggested Citation

Winters, Paul and Davis, Benjamin and Handa, Sudhanshu and Yablonski, Jennifer and Winder Rossi, Natalia and Hypher, Nicola, Conclusions and Policy Implications for Cash Transfer Programmes (2016). From Evidence to Action: The Story of Cash Transfers and Impact Evaluation in Sub Saharan Africa, 2016, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3307456

Paul Winters (Contact Author)

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) ( email )

Via Paolo di Dono
Rome, 00142
Italy

Benjamin Davis

UNICEF South Africa ( email )

P. O. Box 4884
Pretoria
South Africa

Sudhanshu Handa

University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill - Department of Public Policy ( email )

Abernathy Hall
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3435
United States
(919) 843-0350 (Phone)
(919) 962-5824 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.unc.edu/depts/pubpol/handa.html

Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) ( email )

1201 Eye St, NW,
Washington, DC 20005
United States

Jennifer Yablonski

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

Natalia Winder Rossi

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Nicola Hypher

United Nations - Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) ( email )

Palais des Nations
Geneva 10, Geneva 1211
Switzerland

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